Updates to RealeSeller™                               
    We continue to have a high number of phone calls and a huge increase in bandwidth on the web site.  Our ad campaign has been successful and we have many new users who are happy to escape the current contact management software they have been using in the past and have started using RealeSeller.  We continue to update the program with new features and fixes.  If you find something that doesn't seem to work the way you expect, please report the issue.  We fix things as fast as possible and if needed, we can post a fix to a serious problem the same day it is reported.  I think you will find that we don't think fixing software issues should be done when we get around to it.  That's how much of the rest of the software industry works, but that doesn't happen here.  We don't claim to be perfect, but we do try harder than anyone else seems to.

   Speaking of problems, that reminds me of something that happened.  An agent downloaded the trial software and installed it.  When he started it, entered his information, pressed the Trial button, the program froze for some reason.  He had some other issues installing the software, but we aren't sure exactly what they were.  After uninstalling and reinstalling 3 different times, he gave up.  Folks, uninstalling and reinstalling isn't usually going to fix a problem.  There is a reason something like this happened.  Of course he just decided to give up and never got on the phone to call tech support.  We really have no idea what happened because there was no communication from his side of the issue.  His emails were answered with as much information as could be given for what he was seeing, but usually that isn't really enough.  Let's face it, not all problems can be solved through email.  We can easily do a remote connection to the problem computer and in a few short minutes have just about anyone up and running.  Sometimes just unchecking a box in Outlook that shouldn't have been selected in the first place solves a problem.  It would have been nice to know what the issue was, but we will never know because he decided to quit without making an effort to let us help.  We do everything possible to make sure the software installs and runs on as wide a variety of computers as possible.  But we don't have every piece of software being sold and running on someone's computer.  Sometimes another program running during the install causes an issue.  Even though you should shut down every open program before installing, sometimes you may not know how.  But, either way, hardware issue or software issue, we can and do get 99.9% of those that call us up and running.  And remember, if you send us an email and ask us to call you, we will.

 SPAM blocking software...                             
    I have been noticing a new problem lately.  When I try and communicate with someone using email, I don't get an answer but I do get an email asking why I haven't responded to their email.  Well, to make a long story short, I answer every email and so does everyone who works for this company.  If an answer to an email question will take a little time to figure out, we send an email letting the sender know that we are working on it and will get back with them soon.  So what happened?  Spam blocking software that's what.  Sometimes I just pick up the phone and call if possible and sure enough, there's the email sitting in some spam folder.  Bottom line is "what are you really missing by using a spam blocker?" ... you may never know.  If you want to use that type of software make sure you are blocking only obvious stuff and not things that are going to cost you business.

    As a professional, I can't block email addressed to any email address I use that is valid.  If it isn't addressed directly to a valid email address, then there is a very, very high probability that it really is spam, otherwise I really have a reason to believe that the email may be important to me.  Some real estate agents have even started using things that force someone to click a link in an email sent in response to an email they got just so someone can prove they are a real person by passing some kind of test.  Are you serious?  Do you realize that you are putting an obstacle to a possible sale in your own way?  What would make anyone think that the potential customer that simply wanted to make an enquiry about a property jump through hoops just to get their email address validated?  Just another click away is an agent that doesn't make customers do that.  Who would you choose? 

    Spam is a real pain and wastes a lot of time.  But that doesn't mean we should go to extremes to try and avoid an occasional item we just delete.  Something to think about this month... how many customers have you unknowingly lost because of this?  The answer is you'll never know.  Those agents using EarthLink seem to generate most of the really annoying challenge messages and they will never have a clue when someone just deletes the challenge email and chooses a different agent.

 Customer feedback                                         
    We love hearing from our customers.  Those that have suggestions for improvements and those pointing out mistakes are very much appreciated around here.  One customer called to tell us that our help file on the web site didn't seem to match the information in the latest help file built in to RealeSeller.  Well, after checking things out, there were quite a few things posted on the web site that have been changed or completely removed from the program.  Well, we try not to make excuses for our flub-ups around here, we just get started trying to figure out the best solution to a problem when it is pointed out.  Once fixed, we then try and make sure it doesn't happen again.

    Well, after a short brain-storming session (we do that a lot around here) it was decided that we needed to put an exact copy of our RealeSeller Help file on our web site and update it every time we updated the program with a new help file.  This would keep everyone up to date with the latest changes and fixes.  It turned out that was easier said than done.  The way the web site works is quite different from the way the help file works even though they are both made using HTML coded web pages. 

    After a lot of research, we figured out that there wasn't a simple way to do it.  Since that wasn't an acceptable answer, I looked at the file structure of the pre-compiled help files and realized that I could write a small program that would take that information and build something that could be easily uploaded to the web site.  A couple of hours later and I had it working.  It does help to be a programmer in situations like this.  I uploaded the newly formatted help file to the web site, made a couple of temporary changes to our Help page, and there it was, finished.  Now, after we make changes to the help file, the site can be easily updated in just a few minutes and with little or no hassle.  Problem solved thanks to customer feedback.

 RealeSeller Version 3.5 Released                
    Several major speed enhancements as well as over-all improvement in the way RealeSeller works within Outlook are the main features of this update. Remember, that unlike other software that integrates with Outlook, ours works with Microsoft Exchange Server perfectly!  We were asked by one agent if we ever slept... the short answer is "not much."  As long as there is a single problem or issue with the program, we will do our best to find it and eliminate it. No program is perfect, but we constantly work to make RealeSeller as close to perfect as is humanly possible. We take this job very seriously and it is important to us that every person who uses the program is happy with the way it works.

    Please report issues you find as soon as possible. The sooner something is reported the sooner we can fix it.

    The download file is getting larger because we are constantly adding to the Help file. In order to get the most out of RealeSeller, a little reading about how things work and what you can do with it are necessary. A new section was added to help those new users get the program up and running the way it was intended. We have also posted the latest clone of the help file on this web site. So, if you haven't downloaded the program yet and are curious about its workings, the help file is about the best place you can start.

    I hope everyone enjoys this latest update as much as I do. I use this program every day just like you do.

 Outlook / RealeSeller Classes...                       
    We have added a calendar with class schedule times to the web site.  We are using GoTo Meeting as our teaching tool as it seems to be very stable and easy to install and use.  Currently you need to call to sign up for a class, but we are working on an automated system which we will post on the web site soon.  Classes can have up to 15 people in them at the same time.  Most classes will last between 1 and 2 hours.  The time will be extended if there is a need as long as it doesn't run into another class time.  Go to the calendar page on our web site and then call us at (972) 377-9769 to sign up for a class.  The introduction to RealeSeller class is free to all who are current owners or in the trial period.
 
  Have You Visited Us Yet?                                
    If you haven't already visited the RealeSeller web site, you should stop in. You might find a lot of information that can be put to good use, and we have a sale going on that will save you $200 if you purchase the program.

That's it for this month.  Please stop by next month for some news, views, and hot tips.